Container and kit for storing and displaying candles

ABSTRACT

A container and kit for storing and displaying at least one candle. The container includes a hollow base having a bottom and a side portion that extends from the bottom to define an open top and an interior space. The interior space being dimensioned to allow at least one candle to be disposed therein. A lid is provided for covering the open top of the base. The lid has a top surface and a bottom surface that are each dimensioned to securely rest upon the side portion of the base. The bottom surface of the lid includes at least one compartment that is dimensioned for accepting and displaying a candle when the lid is overturned. The kit includes the container and at least one candle, and may include a plurality of playing pieces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of giftware and, inparticular, to a container and kit for storing and displaying candles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In recent years, the giftware industry has seen a dramaticincrease in the sales of its products. This increase in sales is tied tomany factors, including the expansion of catalog and Internet salesoutlets, and a trend among consumers to spend more money on homefurnishings.

[0003] One facet of the giftware industry that has contributed greatlyto this increase is the market for candles and accessories. In fact, arecent study has indicated that the consumer market for candles andaccessories totaled $2.2 billion in 1999 and is expected to grow to over$3 billion in sales by 2003. The same study indicated that more than 80%of adult Americans purchased candles or accessories in 1999.

[0004] Candles come in many shapes, styles, colors and fragrances. Inaddition, there are a wide variety of candle accessories that aredesigned to compliment the candles. These accessories include decorative“toppers”, which are designed to cover the candle when it is not in use,decorative jars in which candles may be stored, and decorative boxes forstoring candles. By combining visual accessories with the pleasing sightand scent of candles, giftware manufacturers have capitalized onconsumers' desire for products that create a sense of peace andtranquility in the home.

[0005] One style of candle that has become particularly popular iscommonly referred to as a “tea light”. Tea light candles have been onthe market for many years and generally consist of a short round cup, adisc of candle wax that occupies the volume of the cup and a wick thatextends through the top surface of the wax. These candles havetraditionally been placed within separate fixtures, such as glass “tealights”, in order to illuminate the fixture and to hide the relativelyplain appearance of the candle itself.

[0006] Because tea light candles are generally small, they must befrequently replaced. Accordingly, spare tea lights need to be stored ina location proximate to where they will eventually be used. In responseto this need, some companies have developed decorative boxes that are ofsufficient size to accommodate tea lights and have visual designs thatenhance the appearance of the surroundings of a room. This meets theneed of locating spare tea light candles proximate to its fixture.However, the need for a separate fixture in which to burn the candle isitself a drawback as this can tend to create undesired clutter within aroom.

[0007] Despite the growth in sales of tea light candles, and ofdecorative boxes to house them, there has heretofore been no productthat combines the storage features of a decorative box with an integralmeans for displaying tea light candles. In addition, the inventor knowsof no product that includes container having a lid that may beoverturned to allow tea light candles to sit within compartments in thebottom surface of the overturned lid and to be displayed therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a container and kit for storing anddisplaying at least one candle. In its most basic form, the container ofthe present invention includes a hollow base having a bottom and a sideportion that extends from the bottom to define an open top and aninterior space. The interior space being dimensioned to allow at leastone candle to be disposed therein. A lid is provided for covering theopen top of the base. The lid has a top surface and a bottom surfacethat are each dimensioned to securely rest upon the side portion of thebase. The bottom surface of the lid includes at least one compartmentthat is dimensioned for accepting and displaying a candle.

[0009] In order to display a candle, a user would remove the lid fromthe base, remove candles from the interior surface of the base, overturnthe lid such that the top surface is in contact with the side portion ofthe base, and place the candles into the compartment, or compartments,within the bottom surface of the overturned lid. When the user isfinished burning the candle(s), the user removes the lid from the base,places the candles back into the interior space, and returns the lid toits storage position, with the bottom surface of the lid contacting theside portion of the base.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the container, the compartmentwithin the bottom surface of the lid is dimensioned to accept a tealight candle. In this preferred embodiment, the top surface and bottomsurface of the lid, and the side portion of the base, each include adecorative design disposed upon at least a portion thereof.

[0011] The top surface and bottom surface of the lid may also include analignment detail for aligning the lid with the base when the lid is in adisplay position. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom surface has analignment detail made up of lip dimensioned to rest upon the sideportion of the base and an extended portion dimensioned to nest withinsaid open top of said base. In embodiments where the side portion of thebase has a chamfered portion disposed proximate to the open top, atleast one of the top surface and bottom surface utilize a countersunkalignment detail that is dimensioned to mate with the chamfered portionof said side portion of said base when said lid is in a storage positionand a display position, respectively. In other embodiments, the topsurface utilizes a lip as an alignment detail while, in still others,neither the top surface or bottom surface utilize such a detail.

[0012] Various embodiments employ bases and tops of varying shapes andsizes and may be made of different materials. In the preferredembodiment, the base and top are made from a resin compound. This ispreferred due to the fact that resin is relatively cheap, readilymoldable into a variety of shapes and textures, and may be finished witha variety of decorative finishes. However, other embodiments aremanufactured of combinations of wood, glass, plastic, metal, ceramics,concrete and stone.

[0013] In some embodiments, the number of compartments is varied fromtwo, three, four, five, six, nine and 12 compartments. In some, there isa single compartment and the interior space within the base isdimensioned to allow at least two candles to be disposed therein instacked relation to one another.

[0014] Some embodiments of the container utilize four side walls, whichmay be dimensioned to define a substantially rectangular open top and aninterior space having a shape of a substantially rectangular polygon. Inothers, the container has a single curved side wall, which may define asubstantially circular open top and an interior space having asubstantially cylindrical shape.

[0015] Finally, in some embodiments, the base portion also includes awall mounting plate extending from the side portion. The wall mountingplate allows the container to be mounted to a wall like a common sconce.

[0016] The inventor also contemplates that the container will be sold asa kit of parts, which make up the kit of the present invention. In itsmost basic embodiment, the kit includes the basic container and at leastone candle. It is preferred that this candle is a tea light candle and,in particular, a tea light candle having a scalloped sidewall. In otherembodiments of the kit, the bottom surface of the lid is designed toallow the game of tic-tac-toe to be played when the lid is overturnedand, accordingly, includes nine compartments disposed in three by threerelation to one another. In some such embodiments, a plurality ofcandles of a first color and a plurality of candles of a second colorare provided and are used as playing pieces. In others, a plurality ofseparate playing pieces, dimensioned for disposal within the at leastone compartment, are provided. These playing pieces may be conventionalcheckers, or may be specialized pieces having decorative designsdisposed upon one or more surfaces.

[0017] Therefore, it is an aspect of the invention to provide acontainer for both storing and displaying candles.

[0018] It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a containerthat has a decorative exterior that may be used to enhance the decor ofa room.

[0019] It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a variety ofcontainers having lids with varying numbers of compartments disposedwithin their bottom surfaces.

[0020] It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a containerhaving a lid that may be disposed in a storage position to expose adecorative design and subsequently overturned to a display position inorder to display burning candles.

[0021] It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a kit having acontainer for both storing and displaying candles and at least onecandle.

[0022] These aspects of the invention are not meant to be exclusive andother features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read inconjunction with the following description, appended claims andaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1A is a top view of the top surface of one embodiment of thelid of the container of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the bottom surface the lid of FIG. 1Ain which three compartments are disposed.

[0025]FIG. 1C is a side view of one embodiment of the container of thepresent invention showing the lid of FIGS. 1A and 1B disposed with thetop surface touching the base and three candles disposed within thethree compartments of the lid.

[0026]FIG. 1D is a side view of one embodiment of the container of thepresent invention showing the lid of FIGS. 1A and 1B disposed with thebottom surface touching the base and the base cut away to reveal theinterior space in which the candles are stored.

[0027]FIG. 2A is a bottom view of one embodiment of a lid having an ovalshape and two compartments that are surrounded by a decorative design.

[0028]FIG. 2B is a side view of the lid of FIG. 2A in which twohexagonal shaped tea light candles are displayed.

[0029]FIG. 2C is a side view of one embodiment of a base, for use withthe lid of FIGS. 2A and 2B, having a decorative design disposed aboutits side portion.

[0030]FIG. 3A is a top view of one embodiment of the lid having arectangular shape, no decorative design upon its top surface, and anextended ridge to mate with a lip formed into the base.

[0031]FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 3A showing sixcompartments, no decorative design upon its bottom surface, and anextended ridge to mate with a lip formed into the base.

[0032]FIG. 4A is a side view of one embodiment of the container having ashaped lid with a handle and rounded top lip as an alignment detail, anda base having a decorative design disposed about its side portion.

[0033]FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 4A showing fourcompartments and no decorative design.

[0034]FIG. 5A is a side view of one embodiment of the container having afully decorated lid in a storage position and a base that is cut away toshow its interior space dimensioned to store candles in stackingrelation to one another.

[0035]FIG. 5B is a side view of the container of FIG. 5A showing the lidin a display position with a single compartment into which a candle isdisposed and showing a bottom surface having an extended portion thatincludes a decorative design about its periphery.

[0036]FIG. 6A is a bottom view of one embodiment of a lid having a roundshape and a single compartment that is surrounded by a countersunkalignment detail.

[0037]FIG. 6B is a side view of an embodiment of the container utilizingthe lid of FIG. 6B and including a base having a chamfered detaildisposed about the periphery of its open top.

[0038]FIG. 7A is a side view of one embodiment of the kit with the sideportion of the base of the container cut away to show candles andplaying pieces stored within the base with the lid in a storageposition.

[0039]FIG. 7B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 7A with the lidin display position and candles disposed within the compartments.

[0040]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the lid in a displayposition having nine compartments in which of nine scalloped tea lightcandles are placed and a playing piece portion in which flower shapedplaying pieces are shown.

[0041]FIG. 9A is a front view of another embodiment of the containerthat is used as a traditional sconce.

[0042]FIG. 9B is an exploded side view of the container of FIG. 9A withthe lid shown in a display position apart from the base.

[0043]FIG. 9C is a top view of the lid of the container of FIGS. 9A &9B.

[0044]FIG. 10A is a side view of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which tapered candles are utilized.

[0045]FIG. 10B is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 10A with the lidin a display position and tapered candles disposed in its compartments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] Referring first to FIGS. 1A-1D, one embodiment of the container10 of the present invention is shown. The container 10 of the presentinvention has a hollow base 12 and a lid 24 that is dimensioned to coverthe base 12.

[0047] The base 12 has a bottom 14 and a side portion 16 that extendsfrom the bottom 14 to define an open top 20 and an interior space 18. Asshown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the interior space 18 is dimensioned to allowthree tea light candles 22 to be disposed therein, which corresponds tothe number of candles 22 that may be displayed at one time using the lid24. However, it is understood that the interior space 18 may bedimensioned to store more candles 22 than the number of candles 22 to bedisplayed at one time using the lid 24. For example, as shown in otherembodiments, the interior space may dimensioned to have a height thatallows candles 22 to be stacked upon each other. In others, the interiorspace 18 is dimensioned to allow candles 22 to be nested beside oneanother in a single pattern, allowing spare candles 22 to be stored. Instill others, the interior space 18 is dimensioned to accept candles 22of other styles and shapes than tea light candles 22.

[0048] The lid 24 is dimensioned to cover the open top 20 of the base 12and has a top surface 26 and a bottom surface 28. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1A-1D, the bottom surface 28 of the lid 24 includes threecompartments 30 that are each dimensioned to accept and display a tealight candle 22. However, as shown in other embodiments, the bottomsurface 28 of the lid 24 may include any number of compartments 30, aswell as a wide variety of decorative designs.

[0049] The top surface 26 and bottom surface 28 of the lid 24 are eachdimensioned to align with, and securely rest upon, the side portion 16of the base 12. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, the top surface 26 andbottom surface 28 of the lid 24 each include alignment details foraligning the lid with the base when in a storage or display position. Asshown in FIG. 1C, the top surface 26 includes an alignment detail madeup of chamfered top lip 32 that surrounds its perimeter and allows thetop surface 26 to align with, and sit securely upon, the side portion 16of the base 12 when it is in the display position. As described indetail below, however, some embodiments utilize different alignmentdetails, while others utilize no alignment detail and the design of thetop surface 26 is such that it may be securely rested upon the base 12.

[0050] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 1D, the bottom surface 28 of the lid24 may include an alignment detail that includes a bottom lip 34dimensioned to rest upon the side portion 16 of the base 12 and anextended portion 36 dimensioned to nest within the open top 20 of thebase 12 when the lid is in the storage position. In this arrangement,the extended portion 36 secures the lid 24 in place and prevents it frominadvertently sliding off of the base 12. As also described in detailbelow, however, some embodiments utilize different alignment details,while still others utilize no alignment detail and the design of thebottom surface 28 is such that it may be securely rested upon the base12 In the embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D, the top surface 26 of the lid 24also includes a decorative design 40 that is formed integral to, andextends from, the top surface 26, while the bottom surface 28 and sideportion 16 of the base do not include such a design 40. In the preferredembodiment, each of the top surface 26 and bottom surface 28 of the lid24, and the side portion 16 of the base 12, include a decorative design40 disposed upon at least a portion thereof. In other embodiments, suchas the embodiment of FIG. 4A, only the side portion 16 of the base 12includes a decorative design 40. In still others, such as the embodimentof FIG. 3A, the base 12 and lid 24 are unadorned by any decorativedesign.

[0051] Similarly, the type of decorative design 40 may vary from thatshown in FIGS. 1A-1D. For example, in some embodiments the decorativedesign 40 is in the form of a relief type carving that is interior tothe top surface 26. In others, the decorative design 40 is not formedintegral to, or extends from, the top surface 26, but rather is aphotograph, drawing or other two dimensional design that is affixed orotherwise applied to the top surface 26, bottom surface 28 or sideportion 16. In still others, the lid 24 and base 12 are adorned withspecific decorative designs to imitate the look of a specific object.For example, in one such embodiment, the top surface 26 of the lid 24and the side portion 16 of the base 12 each include decorative details40 to make the container 10 appear to be a book. In others, the base 12and lid 24 include decorative details 40 to make the container 10 appearto be an old fashioned steamer trunk. Therefore, the decorative designs40 should not be seen as being limited to those set forth herein.

[0052] The container 10 of the present invention may be manufacturedfrom a variety of materials. In the preferred embodiment, the base 12and lid 24 are made from a resin compound. As noted above, this materialis preferred due to the fact that resin is relatively cheap, readilymoldable into a variety of shapes and textures, and may be finished witha variety of decorative finishes. However, other embodiments aremanufactured of combinations of wood, glass, plastic, metal, ceramics,concrete and stone.

[0053] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2C, another embodiment of the container10 of the present invention is shown. FIG. 2A shows the bottom surface28 of a lid 24 having a substantially oval shape and two compartments 30that are dimensioned to accept tea light candles 22. In this embodiment,each compartment 30 is surrounded by a decorative design 40 that isformed integral to, and extends from, the bottom surface. In thisembodiment, the decorative design 40 also includes alphanumeric text 50,such as words or phrases, that are relief cut into the bottom surface28. In this embodiment, the top surface 26 and the side portion 16 ofthe base 12 each include decorative designs 40 disposed upon at least ofportion thereof. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2C, the bottom surface 28includes a substantially planar bottom lip 34 and the top surface 26includes a substantially planar a top lip 32, which each serve as analignment detail. Finally, as shown in FIG. 2B, the container 10 may besold as part of a kit that includes tea light candles 22 having cups 56in the shape of hexagon. However, as described in detail below, it isunderstood that candles 22 having different shapes and sizes may also besupplied in the kit of the present invention.

[0054] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, another embodiment of the lid12 of the container 10 of the present invention is shown. In thisembodiment, the lid 12 has rectangular shape, and neither the topsurface 26 nor the bottom surface 28 have any decorative design. The topsurface 26 of this lid includes an alignment detail in the form of aridge 35 that is dimensioned to mate with a lip that surrounds the opentop of the base (not shown). The bottom surface 28 also employs a ridge37 as an alignment detail and has six compartments 30 that are eachdimensioned to accept a tea light candle (not shown).

[0055] Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B, still another embodiment of thecontainer 10 is shown. In these embodiments, the lid 24 of the container10 has a shaped top surface 26 from which a handle 58 extends. The topsurface 26 is otherwise devoid of decorative design and includes arounded top lip 60, which serves as an alignment detail when the lid isin a display position. The bottom surface 28 of the lid 24 includes alip 34, which serves and an alignment detail, and four compartments 30that are disposed in a shape of a rounded cross. In this embodiment, thebottom surface 28 is otherwise devoid of a decorative design. Finally,the base 12 in this embodiment includes a decorative design 40 that isdisposed upon a part of its side portion 16.

[0056] Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, still another embodiment of thecontainer 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the base 12 includes aninterior space 18 that is dimensioned to store three candles 22 instacking relation to one another. However, it is recognized that theside portion 16 of the base 12 could be extended or shortened in orderto accommodate more or fewer candles 22 than the three candles 22 shown.The lid 24 of this embodiment includes a top surface 26 having adecorative design 40 covering its entirety. This embodiment of the topsurface 26 is devoid of any separate alignment detail, but rather thedecorative design 40 itself serves to align the lid 24 with the base 12when, as in FIG. 5B, the lid is in a display position. As shown in FIG.5B, the bottom surface 28 of the lid 24 includes a single compartment(not shown) into which a single candle 22 is disposed when the lid is ina display position. The bottom surface 28 employs a similar alignmentdetail to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in which a bottom lip 34 and anextended portion 36 are provided. However, in this embodiment, theextended portion 36 includes a decorative design 40 that is disposedabout its periphery and is visible when the lid 24 is in the displayposition. Finally, the side portion 16 of the base 12 also includes adecorative design 40 disposed about a portion thereof.

[0057] Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, another embodiment of thecontainer 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the top 24 and base 12 eachare rounded and include complimentary alignment details. This embodimentincludes a bottom surface 28 having a single compartment 30 dimensionedto accept one candle 22. Like the embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B, thebase 12 that has an interior space 18 dimensioned to store candles 22 instacking relation to one another. The side portion 16 of the base 12 ofthis embodiment is dimensioned to allow two candles to be stacked atopof one another but, as noted above, the side portion 16 may be extendedor shortened to allow any number of candles 22 to be stacked.

[0058] The embodiment of FIGS. 6A and 6B utilizes a different alignmentdetail than those shown in other embodiments. Here, the side portion 16of the base 12 includes a chamfered portion 78 that extends about theside portion 16 of the base at a location proximate to the open top 20and both the top surface 26 and bottom surface 28 include a acountersunk alignment detail 80 that is dimensioned to mate with thechamfered portion 18 of the base 12. In other embodiments, however, thebase 12 is countersunk while the top surface 26 and bottom surface 28include chamfered alignment details. It is recognized that the alignmentdetails of FIGS. 6A and 6B may be utilized with any other of theembodiments described herein. Likewise, it is recognized that containers10 of the type shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B may utilize other alignmentdetails, or no alignment details at all.

[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B one embodiment of the kit 90 isshown. This embodiment of the kit includes a container 10 having a base12 and lid 24, a plurality of tea light candles 22 and a plurality ofplaying pieces 92 for use in playing games, such as tic-tac-toe. Thebase 12 includes an interior space that is divided by a divider wall 94,enabling the candles 22 and playing pieces to be segregated. In thisembodiment, the playing pieces 92 are common checkers. However, otherembodiments may use other types of playing pieces commonly utilized inthe game and giftware industries. The bottom surface 28 of the lid 24 isdivided into three portions. One portion 96 in which the compartments(not shown) for holding the candles 22 are disposed, and two playingpiece portion 98 for holding playing pieces 92 belonging to each player.

[0060]FIG. 8 shows a bottom surface of a lid 24 used in connection withthe base 12 of the kit 90 of FIGS. 7A and 7B, or in connection withother bases 12. In this embodiment, the bottom surface 28 of the lid 12includes nine compartments 30 aligned to form a standard tic-tac-toeboard and includes a divider 104 that separates the compartments 30 fromone playing piece portion 102. As shown in FIG. 8, the playing pieces 92are flower shaped. However, playing pieces 92 having other designs, orno design at all, may be substituted. In the kit of FIG. 8, a pluralityof candles 22 having scalloped cups 100 are shown as disposed withinscalloped compartments 30. However, it is recognized that standard tealight candles 22, or candles of other styles or shapes, may also besubstituted to achieve similar results.

[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 9A-9C, still another embodiment of thecontainer 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the side portion 16 of thebase 12 includes a wall mounting plate 104 that extends from the base 12to allow the container 10 to be mounted like a traditional sconce. Inthe embodiment shown, the interior space of the base 12 is sized toaccommodate a single tea light candle 22. However, as was the case withother embodiments, the side portion 16 may be extended to accommodatevarying numbers of candles 22. The base 12 and lid 24 are square in thisembodiment, but may take many different shapes. Likewise, the bottomsurface 28 of the lid includes a single compartment (not shown) butcould include compartments to hold varying numbers of candles.Therefore, these embodiments should not be seen as being limited to thatshown in FIGS. 9A-9C.

[0062] Referring now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, still another embodiment ofthe container 10 is shown. The container 10 of this embodiment includesa base 12 that has an interior space dimensioned to accept taperedcandles 22 and a lid having a bottom surface 28 that is likewisedimensioned to accept tapered candles 22. The lid 24 is shown as havingno alignment details, but could include such details as are shown inconnection with other embodiments.

[0063] Although the present invention has been described in considerabledetail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, otherversions would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should notbe limited to the description of the preferred versions containedherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for storing and displaying at leastone candle, said container comprising: a hollow base having a bottom anda side portion that extends from said bottom to define an open top andan interior space, said interior space being dimensioned to allow atleast one candle to be disposed therein; and a lid having a top surfaceand a bottom surface, said lid being dimensioned to cover said open top;wherein said top surface and said bottom surface are each dimensioned torest upon said side portion of said base; and wherein said bottomsurface of said lid comprises at least one compartment disposed therein,said compartment being dimensioned to allow a single candle to bedisplayed therein.
 2. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidat least one compartment disposed within said bottom surface of said lidis substantially cylindrical in shape and is dimensioned to accept a tealight candle.
 3. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said atleast one compartment disposed within said bottom surface is a number ofcompartments chosen from a group consisting of two, three, four, six andnine compartments.
 4. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidat least one compartment within said bottom surface of said lidcomprises one compartment and wherein said interior space within saidbase is dimensioned to allow at least two candles to be disposed thereinin stacking relation.
 5. The container as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid base further comprises a wall mounting plate extending from saidside portion.
 6. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein at leastone of said top surface and said bottom surface of said lid furthercomprises a decorative design disposed upon at least a portion thereof.7. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said side portion of saidbase forms an outer side surface and wherein said outer side surfacecomprises a decorative design disposed upon at least a portion thereof.8 The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bottom surface ofsaid lid further comprises an alignment detail for aligning said lidwith said base when said lid is in a display position.
 9. The containeras claimed in claim 8 wherein said alignment detail comprises a lipdimensioned to rest upon said side portion of said base and an extendedportion dimensioned to nest within said open top of said base.
 10. Thecontainer as claimed in claim 8 wherein said side portion of said basecomprises a chamfered portion disposed proximate to said open top, andwherein said alignment detail is a countersunk alignment detaildimensioned to mate with said chamfered portion of said side portion ofsaid base when said lid is in a storage position.
 11. The container asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said top surface of said lid furthercomprises an alignment detail for aligning said lid with said base whensaid lid is in a storage position.
 12. The container as claimed in claim11 wherein said alignment detail is a lip dimensioned to rest upon saidside portion of said base.
 13. The container as claimed in claim 11wherein said side portion of said base comprises a chamfered portionproximate to said open top, and wherein said alignment detail is acountersunk alignment detail dimensioned to mate with said chamferedportion of said side portion of said base when said lid is in a displayposition.
 14. The container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sideportion comprises four side walls that define a substantiallyrectangular open top and an interior space having a shape of asubstantially rectangular polygon.
 15. The container as claimed in claim16 wherein said side portion comprises a single curved side wall singlecurved side that defines a substantially circular open top an interiorspace having a substantially cylindrical shape.
 16. A kit of partscomprising: at least one candle; and a container for storing anddisplaying said at least one candle, said container comprising: a hollowbase having a bottom and a side portion that extends from said bottom todefine an open top and an interior space, said interior space beingdimensioned to allow at least one candle to be disposed therein; and alid having a top surface and a bottom surface, said lid beingdimensioned to cover said open top; wherein said top surface and saidbottom surface are each dimensioned to securely rest upon said sideportion of said base; and wherein said bottom surface of said lidcomprises at least one compartment disposed therein, said compartmentbeing dimensioned to allow a single candle to be displayed therein. 17.The kit of parts as claimed in claim 16 wherein said at least one candleis at least one tea light candle.
 18. The kit of parts as claimed inclaim 17 wherein said at least one tea light candle comprises a cuphaving a scalloped sidewall.
 19. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 17wherein said at least one compartment comprises nine compartmentsdisposed in three by three relation, and wherein said at least onecandle comprises a plurality of candles of a first color and a pluralityof candles of a second color.
 20. The kit of parts as claimed in claim16 further comprising a plurality of playing pieces dimensioned fordisposal within said at least one compartment, and wherein said at leastone compartment comprises nine compartments disposed in three by threerelation.